Ideal equipment for new music build

<font size="2">A school where I work part-time is being completely rebuilt, with completion due early in 2012.</font> There will be 3 music rooms and several practice rooms. There is a recording studio space in the middle with possibilities for sound recording equipment linking to the main rooms. Any ideas regarding equipment essential for the classrooms and the recording studio space would be appreciated!!

<font size="2">A school where I work part-time is being completely rebuilt, with completion due early in 2012.</font> There will be 3 music rooms and several practice rooms. There is a recording studio space in the middle with possibilities for sound recording equipment linking to the main rooms. Any ideas regarding equipment essential for the classrooms and the recording studio space would be appreciated!!

If you want to be able to record a band including drums etc... I recommend:
A fast computer with a firewire card
Cubase 6/Logic/Pro Tools 9
Saffire pro 40 (an 8 mic preamp audio interface so you can record 8 things at once directly to the computer)
Drum 8 mic set
Rode NT1A condenser
Shure SM58
Shure SM57 x 2 (for guitar amping though you can DI the guitar into the computer and use guitar vst effects instead of amps)
This all depends on budget obviously, I can give you a really cutdown version if you want?

Many thanks for this solution. The manager for the project definitely has a reasonable budget for the recording studio space.
My concern is that there does not appear to be a plan for the installation of basic computer workstations / software / other technology / electronic drum kits in the classrooms. My priority would be to kit the classrooms first before spending all the available funds on the 'recording studio'. I have ideas for the classrooms areas and will be submitting a proposal, so any further thoughts would be welcome.

Well, we have just done this. I took delivery of the new rooms on the first day of term and the IT is arriving piece by piece. We do have arecording studio booth connected to two practice rooms and the main teaching space via an installed patch bay.
I commisioned a local music shop to equip the studio but the school insisted on buying the actual computer and this has led to problems with the audio which is still being sorted. It includes a 16 channel desk connected to a PC using two 8 input sound cards. We have Cubase and Logic on this machine, which is used only as a multitrack recorder (with midi if you need it).
I also have twn other ordinary computers, some with USB audio interfaces, somewith midi interfaces (to connect by best keyboards) all with cubase and sibelius (i would not be without this programme). Again, the audio is a problem and this is apparently due to a combination of them being networked and not using the right ASIO interfaces. The computers not connected to keyboards have midi controlers and I chose the M Audio Keystudio. There is a version of this with build in piano sounds if you want to be able to use it as a classroom keyboard as well!
What I intend to do is train students to record their own songs and performances on the recording studio - the ten inidividual machines will be used with sibelius and cubase for classroom projects at KS3. KS4 students will use the machines for composition and maymeb midi performance.
I am going to offer AS Music Tech and hopefully Btec Performing Arts later on.
I am in the midlands, if you want to come and take a look you are very welcome - just let me know via messages.

I commisioned a local music shop to equip the studio but the school insisted on buying the actual computer and this has led to problems with the audio which is still being sorted. It includes a 16 channel desk connected to a PC using two 8 input sound cards. We have Cubase and Logic on this machine, which is used only as a multitrack recorder (with midi if you need it).

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Why didn't you just use the two 8 input audio interfaces instead of a desk? The only real reason to have a desk these days is if you have expensive outboard compressors, eqs etc... or if the desk is an SSL desk.
My studio uses two of these http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio_interfaces/saffire_pro_40/
Linked to each other via ADAT.
What problems are you having with the computer?

Hello,
I have been teaching in a new build, the class room set up needs detailed planning. I joined the school after the build and although it is in the main great, there are some issues still to be resolved. We have 3 large classrooms, 1 with macs all the way round the room and on fixed tables down the middle. Fits 16 Macs so caters for paired work. We have logic pro-Apple, very lucky. Most students really enjoy it and it has helped engage some boys. Our other teaching room has Yamaha keyboards around the room, no computers. However it has a fixed table down the middle of the room. The fixed table limits space in both rooms, particularly for choir rehearsals or whole class singing so plan carefully. Our practice rooms are on the small size particularly for string players who need space for bowing.
Our 3rd teaching room has been taken over by another dept but it is great for lunchtime concerts and group work when free.
The dept is trying to get both rooms kitted out with Macs but it does take away from the essential group playing and acoustic work. In the Mac room we have just been connected to the internet too which will open up endless possibilities for interesting lessons.

Hi - we move into our school in Sept. We will have a Recording Studio wired into all practice rooms, music rooms, main hall and recital hall + will be MAC based with PRO Tools (newest version at the time). A company has been drafted in by the BSF team to do all the specialised equipment for the music rooms and theatre (lighting, studios etc) and this all comes from a separate budget line.
We have a suite of MAC's and a suite of PC's. The MAC's will have audio interfaces and will run Cubase, Sibelius and everything else I asked for. This comes from the main ICT budget.
You need to ask for everything you could ever dream of and hope to get a quarter of it. We did quite well, but do have over half of each year group taking Music as an option so the equipment will prove very useful.

Hi,
Did you think about becoming a Roland Champion School? If so, you would get highly preferential rates on equipment purchases. I don't work for Roland, but I do manage this initiative for them.
Do email me direct [jonathan[remove this]@ucan.tv] if you want to find out more.
Thanks,
Jonathan